New York Mets: Why the Current FA Market Favors the Mets

Until we see otherwise, it's hard to believe that the New York Mets front office will acquire a top-flight player.

That may not be a problem; however, as several second-tier players that could benefit the Mets are still available.

With the current state of the franchise, the Mets do not need to acquire a Michael Bourn-type of player, which would cause them to surrender their No. 11 overall pick in the 2013 MLB draft.

There are other players that would fit nicely into their plans for the upcoming season, while not deterring their plans to clear up as much payroll flexibility for next season when Jason Bay and Johan Santana are not bogging down their roster.

After the upper-echelon free agents such as Josh Hamilton and B.J. Upton signed this offseason, there was a precipitous drop off in talent.

The Mets were smart not to overpay for a Melky Cabrera-type of player, but eventually they need to make an upgrade in their outfield and bullpen, which is currently worse than what they fielded last season.

Not to mention they need to replace the innings R.A. Dickey provided.

Fortunately, there are several free agent veterans that are still available that will be forced to accept one-year deals due to the lack of interest they have received on the market.

As far as the bullpen, the Mets could sign a former stars such as Matt Capps, Jose Valverde, Brian Wilson or Francisco Cordero and hope that they are able to recapture their old form.

These pitchers do not have much leverage on the open market. Mets' general manager Sandy Alderson is very adept at signing players that are in this situation, as they are attempting to do with Scott Hairston.

This would help to improve on the bullpen that ranked 29th in the majors in ERA in 2012, narrowly ahead of Milwauke (4.65 to 4.66).

As far as the outfield is concerned, it is currently brutal. It is led by Lucas Duda who was sent to Triple-A last season to figure out his swing.

It should not remain that way entering the season.

They can easily sign a right-handed hitter such as Delmon Young to provide the pop that they desperately need.